u/CategoryNo2266

Northeastern Illinois zone 5, 5th floor patio facing west into the prevailing winds

In a fit of wild recklessness last fall i bought this big five gallon white pine. Praises be to the tree gods it survived the winter! I”m looking to prune it in a kind of niwaki/bonsai style and keep it in the existing pot long term. I’ve heard in the bonsai community “a pine can only take one insult a year”, so in that light, I’m wondering if i should… do nothing for a year and let it adjust to the transplant? Candle? Prune (to what degree?)? Train? How much stress can this tree handle? I feel so responsible for this beautiful little tree and I’m so pleased it survived, i dont want to knock it back too much !!